"Of course you couldn't," said the Cow, yawning indolently. "It's precisely what I should expect of a person who hadn't any chewing-gum." And with this the Cow walked gravely away, just as Mother Hubbard made her appearance at the window. "Boy," said Mother Hubbard, beaming mildly upon Davy through her spectacles, "you shouldn't throw gravel." "I haven't thrown any," said Davy. "Fie!" said Mother Hubbard, shaking her head; "always speak the truth." "I am speaking the truth," said Davy, indignantly. "It was Gobobbles." "So I supposed," said Mother Hubbard, gently shaking her head again. "It would have been far better if he had been cooked last Christmas instead of being left over. Stuffing him and then letting him go has made a very proud creature of him. You should never be proud." "I'm not proud," replied Davy, provoked at being mixed up with Gobobbles in this way. "You may define the word _proud_, and give a few examples," continued Mother Hubbard; and by this time she had grown to be so surprisingly like Miss Peggs that Davy immediately clasped his hands behind him, according to rule, and prepared to recite. "Proud means being set up, I think," he said, respectfully; "but I don't think I know any examples." "You may take Gobobbles for an example," replied Mother Hubbard. "You'll find _him_ set up in front of the house, and mind you don't aggravate him;" and after again beaming mildly through her spectacles she disappeared from the window, and Davy went cautiously around the corner of the house, curious to see what Gobobbles might be like. As he approached the front of the house he heard a loud, thumping noise, and presently he came in sight of Gobobbles, who proved to be a large and very bold-mannered turkey with all his feathers taken off except a frowzy tuft about his neck. He was tied fast in a baby's high chair, and was thumping his chest with his wings in such a violent and ill-tempered manner that Davy at once made up his mind not to aggravate him under any circumstances. As Gobobbles caught sight of him he discontinued his thumping, and, after staring at him for a moment, said sulkily:-- "I can't abide boys!" "Why not?" said Davy. "Oh, they're so hungry!" said Gobobbles, passionately. "They're so everlastingly hungry. Now don't deny that you're fond of turkey." "Well, I _do_ like turkey," said Davy, seeing no way out of the difficulty. "Of course you do!" said Gobobbles, tossing his head. "Now you might as well know," he continued, resuming his thumping with increased energy, "that I'm as hollow as a drum and as tough as a hat-box. Just mention that fact to any one you meet, will you? I suppose Christmas is coming, of course." "Of course it is," replied Davy. "It's _always_ coming!" said Gobobbles, angrily; "I never knew a time yet when it _wasn't_ coming!" "_I_ don't mind having it come," said Davy, stoutly.